Sweden's milestone targets

Reduced climate impact

Emissions of greenhouse gases by 2020By 2020, emissions of greenhouse gases in Sweden, from activities not included in the EU Emissions Trading Scheme, should be reduced by 40 per cent compared with 1990. This means that, by 2020, greenhouse gas emissions from the non-trading sector are to be around 20 million tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent lower than in 1990. The decrease will be achieved by emission reductions in Sweden and by means of investments in other EU member states or flexible mechanisms such as the Clean Development Mechanism.

Emissions of greenhouse gases by 2030Emissions in Sweden outside of the EU ETS should by 2030 be at least 63 per cent lower than emissions in 1990. To achieve the goal, no more than 8 percentage points of the emissions reductions may be realised through supplementary measures.

Emissions of greenhouse gases by 2040Emissions in Sweden outside of the EU ETS should by 2040 be at least 75 per cent lower than emissions in 1990. To achieve the goal, no more than 2 percentage points of the emissions reductions may be realised through supplementary measures.

Emissions of greenhouse gases by 2045By 2045, Sweden is to have no net emissions of greenhouse gases into the atmosphere and should thereafter achieve negative emissions. To achieve zero net emissions, supplementary measures may be counted. By 2045, emissions from activities in Swedish territory are to be at least 85 per cent lower than emissions in 1990.

Emissions of greenhouse gases from domestic transportEmissions from domestic transport, excluding domestic aviation, are to be reduced by at least 70 per cent by 2030 compared with 2010. Domestic aviation is not included in the goal since domestic aviation is included in the EU ETS.

Air pollution

Limited emissions of transboundary air pollution in Europe– The European Union will have decided on additional limitations regarding national emissions of air pollution through a revision of the National Emission Ceilings Directive by 2015, and– the amendment to the Gothenburg Protocol under the Convention on Long-Range Transboundary Air Pollution will have been ratified by enough countries for it to enter into force by 2015.

Emissions of air pollution from maritime shippingEmissions of sulphur dioxide, nitrogen oxides and particulate matter from shipping in the Baltic Sea and the North Sea are to have begun to be reduced by 2016.

Emissions of air pollution from small-scale wood burningNew boilers for small-scale wood burning are to have low emissions of air pollutants and high levels of efficiency. The Swedish National Board of Housing, Building and Planning has been tasked with preparing new building regulations during 2012.

Dangerous substances

Particularly dangerous substancesDecisions taken within the European Union and internationally on such substances are to include measures which mean that:– By 2015, endocrine disruptors and highly allergenic substances are considered particularly dangerous substances in relevant regulations.– By 2018, particularly dangerous substances are subject to examination or phase-out decisions under current regulations in all areas of use.– By 2018, particularly dangerous substances in production processes are only used under strictly regulated circumstances.– By 2018, the expression ‘particularly dangerous substances’ in relevant regulations also includes substances with serious properties other than those included in the current specific criteria and which give rise to an equivalent level of concern.

Knowledge on the health and environmental properties of substancesDecisions taken within the European Union and internationally will require that information on properties of chemicals that are hazardous to the environment and human health is to be available and sufficient for the purposes of risk assessment for all areas of use. Decisions are to include measures which mean that:– By 2015, relevant regulations require knowledge and information on the presence of nanoparticles and nanomaterials that are sufficient to assess and minimise their impact on health and the environment.– By 2015, it is possible for relevant regulations to take account of combination effects of exposure to chemicals.– By 2015, regulations take account of the fact that children are particularly sensitive to the effects of chemicals.– By 2018, the information requirements for registration under REACH regarding substances that are manufactured or imported in smaller quantities (less than 10 tonnes per manufacturer or importer annually) are enhanced.

Information about dangerous substances in articles– Regulations or agreements within the European Union or internationally are to be applied in such a way that information about substances hazardous to health and the environment that are present in articles is available to all parties concerned by 2020.– The regulations are to be introduced gradually for different product groups, and children’s health is to be given particular focus in the information.– Information about substances hazardous to health and the environment that are present in materials and articles is to be made available throughout the entire product life cycle through harmonised systems that cover prioritised product groups.

Development and application of the EU's chemical rulesREACH and other relevant EU regulations are to be applied by 2020 at the latest or revised if necessary so that: – it will to a greater extent become possible to assess and test groups of substances with similar intrinsic properties, chemical structures or areas of use.– the substitution principle and its application is strengthened in connection with restrictions, consideration of permits and other relevant elements of the regulatory framework.

More effective chemicals supervision in the EUDecisions are made within the EU by 2018 at the latest that strengthen and streamline supervision in the Member States and develop supervisory cooperation within the Union regarding rules for chemicals, including dangerous substances in goods and waste.

Non-toxic and resource-efficient ecocycles The safe use of recycled material from a health and environmental perspective through, as far as possible, avoiding the recirculation of dangerous substances while resource-efficient ecocycles are sought. This is to be achieved through an overall action strategy within the EU, which, by 2018 at the latest, is to result in a number of measures, including:– the finalisation and coordination of EU regulations on waste, chemicals and goods so that they steer towards non-toxic and resource-efficient ecocycles– the establishment of the principle of high and uniform requirements on the content of dangerous substances in newly produced and recycled materials, through a decision where appropriate.

Reducing children's exposure to dangerous chemicals Decisions are made by 2018 at the latest concerning existing and, if necessary, new regulations and other policy levers which will bring about a significant reduction in the health risks to children as a result of overall exposure to chemicals. The risk reduction is to be assessed in comparison with the situation in 2012.

Greater environmental consideration in EU pharmaceuticals legislation and internationallyDecisions are made within the EU or internationally by 2020 at the latest that involve existing and any new regulations for medicinal products for human or veterinary use taking greater environmental consideration.

Waste

Better resource management in the food chainMeasures are to be taken so that, by 2018, resource management in the food chain is improved through separation and biological treatment of at least 50 per cent of food waste from households, catering services, shops and restaurants, with the aim of recovering plant nutrients, with at least 40 per cent treated in such a way that energy is also recovered.

Construction and demolition wasteMeasures are to be taken so that, by 2020, at least 70 per cent by weight of non-hazardous construction and demolition waste is prepared for reuse, recycling and other material recovery.

Biodiversity

Ecosystem services and resilienceImportant ecosystem services and factors that affect their maintenance are to be identified and systematised by 2013.

Importance of biodiversity and the value of ecosystem servicesBy 2018, the importance of biodiversity and the value of ecosystem services are to be generally known and integrated into economic positions, political considerations and other decisions in society where it is relevant and reasonable to do so.

Threatened species and habitat typesAction plans to achieve favourable conservation status for those threatened species and habitat types that cannot be safeguarded through ongoing measures for sustainable use of land and water and existing site protection are to be implemented, or in the process of being implemented, by 2015.

Invasive alien speciesImpact of invasive alien species in Sweden as regards biodiversity, and their socio-economic impact on health etc., are to be assessed and prioritised measures to control them are to be initiated by 2015.

Knowledge about genetic diversityMapping and monitoring of genetic diversity are to be initiated by 2015.

A holistic approach to the use of landCoordination in central government administration has been strengthened by 2016 so that the holistic approach to the use of land has increased.

The protection of land areas, freshwater areas and marine areas At least 20 per cent of Sweden's land and freshwater areas, and 10 per cent of Sweden's marine areas, by 2020 contribute to achieving national and international biodiversity targets. This will take place through protection or other conservation in areas of particular importance to biodiversity or ecosystem services. This conservation will take place with ecologically representative and well-connected systems, which include reserves, other effective area-based protective measures or environmentally sound usage. These systems are to be well integrated in the surrounding landscape and managed in an efficient and inclusive way. Between 2012 and 2020, at least 1 142 000 additional hectares are to be protected as follows:- High nature value forests are to be protected from tree-felling. This will take place through an increase in formally protected forest land of approximately 150 000 hectares of high nature value forests in need of formal protection below the montane forest zone.- Voluntary set-asides by the forestry industry should have increased by approximately 200 000 hectares to a total of 1 450 000 hectares of forest land in areas that are, or may develop into, high nature value areas.- The formal protection of wetlands has increased by 210 000 hectares as a result of boglands and fens of high nature value being protected under the 'National plan for conservation of boglands and fens'.- The formal protection of lakes and watercourses has increased by at least 12 000 hectares.- The formal protection of marine areas has increased by at least 570 000 hectares.- The ecological connections have been strengthened so that protected areas and areas and biotopes conserved in other ways are well connected and integrated in the landscape, including the marine environment.

Environmental consideration in forestryThe expectations of society on environmental considerations in forestry are clarified and known to the forestry industry so that they can be applied in practice.

Varied forestryProvisions have been clarified so that by 2015 there are good conditions for varied forestry.

A dialogue process in a national forestry programmeAn open dialogue with stakeholders in forests and their value chain has been established by 1 July 2015. This dialogue covers economic, social and environmental values and aims for forests and their value chain to further contribute to the development towards a sustainable society and a growing bio-based economy.